Car-loader.



No. 728,298. 'PATENTED MAY 19, 1903.

' B. H. REYNOLDS.

- GAR LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED AIR. 10, 1901.

' jug N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-433111 1.

'IPATENTBD MAY 19, 1903.

E. H. REYNOLDS;

CAR LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1901.

B SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' no MODEL.

s E E s E 110.7%,298. PATENTEDMAY19J903.

E. H. REYNOLDS. I I

CAR LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10,1901. I I I A I no 101221.. asHEnT-snm: a.

1M: mama PETERS co. mom-urns" WAsMINmnN, o, c

Patented May 19, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

' EARL H. REYNOLDS, F STERLING, ILLINOIS.

CAR-LOADER.

, SPECIFICATION Iorming part of Letters Patent No. 728,298, dated May19, 19033.

Application filed April 10, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL H. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sterling, in the county of Whiteside and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Loaders, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of car-loadersespecially designed for loading grain, 'middlings, bran, 850., intocars,although my present invention is equally adapted to loadingsawdust, sand, fine coal, and other commodities which it may be founddesirable to load intocars, the holds of vessels, or otherstorage-places.

The particular class to which my inventionrelates is exemplified byLetters Patent No. 614,891, granted to me November 29, 1898, the rotarydistributing apparatus illustrated in said patent being equally welladapted for use in my present invention-either in the form shown in thesaid patent or in the form shown in the present application.

This invention has for its primary object to enable the loading of bothends of a car or oppositely-disposed distant parts of any receptacle atthe same time and, if desired, from the same source of supply or fromseparate sources of supply and with the same or with difierent kinds ofcommodities.

Another object of my invention is to so support the distributingapparatus that it may be introduced into or withdrawn from a car withoutdisconnecting the parts of either the driving or supportingmechanism,Where by the distributing device may be projected into and operatedsubstantially at thecenter of the car upon its own permanent supportsinstead of upon temporary supports, as here; tofore.

These and such otherobjects as may here-- inafter appear are attained bythe devices illustrated .in the accompanying d riawings, in

whichp Figurel is'a perspeotivehview of: aicar-i loader embodying my,invention, showing the samein operative position-in a car,;the body ofwhich is broken away to more clearly disclose the loader. apparatusshown in Fig. 1 with the car-body shown in horizontal position. Fig. 3is an enlarged detail plan view of the freeend of ing apparatus of theloader.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the Serial 5 5 ,2 31. (No model.)

a view s'imilarto Fig. 2, but showing a modification of my invention;andFig. 7 is a side elevation of-the loader with the car and a portionof the building shown in transverse section.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in'the severalfigures of the drawings.

Referring; by letter to the accompanying drawings, A indicates the bodyof a car, B

thewall of a building, such as an elevator,

in which the grain is stored, and C a flexible spout leading from theweighingscales or storage-bins of theelevator to the distribut- As shownin the drawings, the distributing apparatus consists of a pair ofcylinders D, having closed ends and provided with lateral extensionsE-from the lower side of their peripheries, constituting discharge-spouts,such casings being pivotallysupported upon the-shafts F, (although theymay be pivotallysupported independently of said shafts,) upon whichshafts withinihe caSing is mounted a spider, carrying upon each of itsarms a blade G of substantially the shape of the interior of the casingand operating much as do the blades of an ordinary rotary fan. Thesedistributing devicesneed not differ essentially from those illustratedin my aforesaid patent and are preferably adjustable in theirbearings,so

' that the direction in which the deli very-spouts E thereof will pointmay be readily adjusted andfixed, suitable means being provided forlocking theminto any adjusted position, such as the spring han d-bars H,(shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5,) rigidly secured atone end to arelatively-fixed cross-bar I and provided withv a tooth or projection J,adapted and ar-. ranged to engage a segmental rack K, rigidly secured tothe side of thecasingof the distributingdevice. I

. "As shown in the drawings, the distributing devices are arranged to besimultaneously fedfrom the same spout and through openings in theperiphery thereof. Tothis end the end of the spout G is so shaped as tofit properly in the crotch between the abutting casings D, in each ofwhich is formed a pcripheral opening L, and to avoid the necessity forclose fitting, as well as provide for more ready adjustmentof thecasings, the generally triangular space below the opposing peripheriesmay be filled with a block M, as more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4,the upper edge of which block projects up between the casings and ispointed or beveled from opposite sides, so as to assist in deflectingthe grain into the casing D as it falls from the spout, the distributionbeing substantially uniform, although it may be controlled and varied byproviding an ordinary damper in the spout (3, so as to throw more orless of the grain to one side or the other of the spout near itsdischarge end, which device is so obvious as not to requireillustration.

It will be understood that the blades in the rotary distributing devicerotate continuously in opposite directions and serve to discharge thegrain at high velocity from the spouts E, so that it will be depositedin the extreme ends of the carer other storage-place. Such a device isquite large and more or less cumbersome, and its value over hand-laborin loading and trimming grain depends upon the rapidity with which theloading is accomplished, and if such a device had to be set up,adjusted, and secured in each car and taken apart and removed therefromat each loading operation it would have little or no practical value,because the loss of time in getting the apparatus into and out ofworking shape would more than compensate for the greater rapidity inloading the car; but any loss of time which results in detaining the caror in limiting the number of cars that may be loaded in a given time ascompared with doing the work by hand, no matter how many men arenecessary, will be fatal to the commercial value of a device of thiskind. Therefore, in addition to the desirable capability of loading bothends of the car at the same time, I propose to have my device I sosupported that it may be placed in operative position in and withdrawnfrom a car with the utmost expedition and without uncoupling any of themechanism or driving gear, whereby the time involved in loading a car isreduced to the minimum. To this end the shafts F and the casings D ofthe distributing devices are journaled in a rectangular frame N, theside bars of which are prolonged and pivoted at O to a' secondrectangular frame P, which latter frame is pivotally mounted upon adriving-shaft Q, bearing in suitable brackets R, preferably secured tothe wall B of the building in which the grain is stored. The shafts Fare connected by a swivel or knuckle joint S on a line coincident withthe pivots O with the parallel shafts T, which latter are suitablyjournaled in the frame P and carry upon their inner ends bevel-gears U,meshing with corresponding bevel-gears V, keyed upon the driving-shaftQ, to which power may be applied in any suitable manner, as by the beltand pulley shown in the drawings. The front bar P of the frame P is bentdown, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, so as to underlie theprolongations of the side bar of the pivoted frame N beyond the pivotconnection 0 of said frame to the frame P, so that when the pivotedframe N is in the extended position shown in the drawings the pivots Oand the cross-bar P together serve to maintain the pivoted frame inalinement with the frame P without other support. It will thus be seenthat by having the swivel connection S in the sectional flexible shaftsF 'I coincident with the pivots O the frame N, carrying with it thedistributing devices, can be folded back upon the frame P withoutbinding of any of the parts. This preliminary folding is necessary toenable the frame P to swing upon its pivotal support, so as to lie upagainst the side of the building out of the way when not desired for useor in changing from one car to another. In other words, if the entireframe were of such a length when extended as to bring the distributingdevices nearly to the center of the car, or, in fact, much more thanhalf-way to the center of the car, it would be impossible to swing thesupporting-frame up upon the shaft Q, as a, pivot for the frame Pwithout first folding the frame N back upon the frame P, because the arcin which the frame would otherwise move is so long that it would strikethe roof of the car and could not be withdrawn. With my support,however, it is only necessary to disconnect the spout C from thedistributing devices and allow the same to hang down by the side of thebuilding, as usual, when the distributing devices, with their pivotedsupplemental supporting-frame, can be first folded out of the door ofthe car and over onto the main pivoted frame P, over which by drawingupon the rope W, attached to the main frame, the latter can be swung upso as to lie in a vertical position against the building entirely out ofthe way of the moving cars.

In practice I simply hitcha block and tackle to the supplemental frameand the wall of the building, thus enabling one man to move theapparatus into and out of operative position without any appreciableloss of time and without the necessity for uncoupling any of the parts.Of course when the apparatus is down in operative position the mainframe P rests at its outer end upon the usual halfdoor of the car, whereit remains during the loading operation. It will also be noted that theapparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 does not extend to the center ofthe car, and hence in order to deliver the grain properly into the carthe two distributing devices must be set at an oblique angle to eachother, a center line through the spout of each running approximately tothe center of the ends IIO , can be set at right angles to theirdriving-- shafts and the main and-supplemental, frame.

of the car. This is necessary in a construc-, tion such as that shown inFigs. 1, 2, and 3, Where the supplemental frame N is simply' pivoted tothe main frame P because of the limitations put upon the distance intothe carwhere the supplemental frame may project by the height of thecar-door, as hereinbefore" explained. By the construction shown in Figs,6 and 7, however, which is the preferredconstruction, this ditficulty isobviated, oe-v cause I provide a sliding as-well asa pivoted,

The essential differences are that the shafts. T are made telescopic andthe pivots O in-- stead of passing through the side barsof the mainframe P, as in the first-described construction, connect thesupplemental frame with blocks 0, which slide in grooves in the sidebars of the main frame, said bars being. preferably in the shape ofchannel-iron to afford proper guideways for said blocks. By thisconstruction the distributing devices and in line with each other,-whilethesupplemental frame has both a pivotal and-sliding connection with themain frame.

Obviously the details of construction may.

be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, and anysuitable means may.

be employed for operating. the drive-shaft or transmitting. the powerfrom said. shaft to;

the distributing devices, and, so far as'relates to the broad idea of myinvention, asingle distributing device may be employed and supported inthe manner hereinbefore described instead of the double devicesshown,although the latter is preferred because of its greater.

capacityand particular adaptation of the supporting devices thereto,thesingle distributers being usually satisfactorily supported without suchmechanism.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a car-loader, the combinationw-ith a supporting-frame, of-adistributing apparatus consisting of a pair-of rotary distributingdevices,comprising cylinders having closed ends and inletand outletopenings, said distributing'devices being placed back to back and -ar-.

ranged to discharge inopposite directionsnw 2. Ina car-loader,thecombination with a supporting-fram e, of a distributingapparatusconsisting of. a pair of rotarydistributing-devices comprisingcylindershaving closed ends and inlet-and outlet openings,said distributin gdevices being placed back to back-andarranged in an angular positionwith relation to each other.

In a car-loader, the combination with a sup porting-frame, of a distribnting apparatus consisting of apair of rotary distributing devicescomprising cylinders having closed ends and outlet-openings, saiddistributing devices being placed back to back andhaving adjoiningperipheral inletopenings, and -a .single.

feed-spout connected with the openings of both distributing devices.-

4. In a car-loader, the combination with a su pporting-frame, of adistributing apparatus v consisting of a pair of rotarydistributing de-.

vices comprising cylinders having closed ends and outlet-openings, .a.single feed-spout dis-- charging into adjoining inlet-openings in theperipheries ofboth cylinders and independent openings discharging fromthecylinders.

in opposite directions.

-5.. In.a carl0ader, the combination with-a;

supporting-frame, of a distributing apparatusconsisting of a pair ofrotary distributing devices comprising cylinders having closed ends andoutlet-openings, said distributing devices being placed back to back andarranged to dischargein opposite directions, a single feed-.

spout discharging into adjoining inlet-openifngs in the peripheries ofboth cylinders, and ablock arranged between the cylinders and below thefeed-spout and having its upper. end beveled from opposite sides todeflect the grain. into the cylinders.

I 6.. In a car-loader, the combination with-a rotary distributingapparatus, of a supple-N mental frame supporting the same, a main framepivoted at one end to swing in a verti-' cal plane and apivot connectionbetween said main and supplemental frames;

i 7. In a car-loader, the combination with-a distributing. apparatus,of. a supplemental I -frame supporting the same, a mainframe IIO pivotedat one end to swingin a vertical plane and a sliding pivotconnectionbetween'said inain and supplemental frames.

8. Ina car-loader, the combination with distributing apparatus, of asupplemental.

frame supporting the same, a mainframe pivoted at one end, a pivotconnection be tween said mainv and supplemental frames,

anda driving shaft forthe distributing 31pm;

paratus provided with a swivelor knuckle joint intermediate .of itslength.

9. Ina car-loader, the combination with a distributing apparatus, of asupplemental frame supporting the same, a'main frame pivoted at one end,a pivot connection hetweensaid main and-supplemental frames anda'telescopic driving-shaft for operating the distributingapparatus.

10. In a car-loader, the combination with a .distributing apparatus, ,ofa supplemental .frame supportingthe same, a main f-rame pivoted atoneend, a pivot connection be tween said mainand supplemental frames,

and artelescopic driving-shaft pr0videdwith1 ,1

&

12. In a car-loader, the combination with a main frame provided withguideways in its sides, of a supplemental frame provided with blockssliding in said guideways, a distributing apparatus supported by saidsupplemental frame and a telescopic driving-shaft provided with a swivelor knuckle joint opposite said blocks.

13. In a car-loader, the combination with a rotary distributing device,of a supplemental frame supporting the same, a main frame pivotallysupported at one end, and a pivot connection between said main andsupplemental frames.

14. In a car-loader, the combination with a distributing apparatus, of amain frame, and a supplemental frame supporting the distributingapparatus and having a pivoted and sliding connection with themainframe.

15. In a car-loader, the combination Witha driving-shaft, of a jointedframe swiveled about said shaft, driving mechanism extending lengthwiseof the frame and jointed corresponding to the frame, and a rotarydistributing apparatus carried by the outer frame-section.

EARL II. REYNOLDS.

\Vitnesses:

WM. 0. BELT, KATHRYN MCLAREN.

